The society presented Bernstein with its Stanley A. Plotkin Lecture in Vaccinology, an honor awarded to individuals who make significant contributions to the field of pediatric vaccine research.

Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea among infants and young children. Each year more than 500,000 children die from diarrheal disease caused by rotavirus, and another 2 million are hospitalized. A 2009 review estimated that widespread vaccination would prevent about 45 percent of deaths due to rotavirus, which could prevent up to 228,000 deaths a year.

The World Health Organization recommends that rotavirus vaccine be included in all national immunization programs.